OFFICIAL Ashley Taylor to Titans

[broncsgoat]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Agreed, let's leave Boyd and Kahu out of the team too when they recover. We're top of the table after all.

Because that's exactly the same thing.

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Destabilising a halves combination that is slowly getting better each week, at this point of the season for a kid that hasn't played a game against men yet is not improving the team

You're right -- it will destabilise them. But the more game time they get together, the more disruptive it will be if Milford does get moved. Which is why, despite Taylor's contract running til next year, I think it's kind of now or never. I get that every team loses young talent, but to me there's a difference between losing young talent and losing very talented young halves.

As for playing against men, there's really no way of knowing. For whatever reason, he's not playing ISC this year. Frankly I don't understand why.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

The other thing for mine is that when you play at a "lower standard", that is where your mind set and performance lies.

You don't get to grow until you are given the chance to prove yourself at a higher level, when you are given the challenge. You rise to the occasion, given a bit of time to adjust of course, and you either risr to the occasion or you don't, but at least you get the chance.

Like I still maintain, our team is what it is ONLY because Bennett has Boyd locked in as FB, which is not a bad thing 'cos Boyd is competent enough to be very good in that role. However, there are consequences, and we are seeing them now. A lot are very good - like we are top of the table without Boyd or Kahu (for the most).

However, our attack is under-done and that will bite us on the bum unless Hunt and Milford and Macca step up. What is not a good consequence is that Taylor will be playing at lower standards and being locked into that for some years to come.

As for destabilising the team by shuffling around now, I agree. It is too late this season. However, things might change if, perish the thought, something happens to Milford or Hunt. But even then, I can't see Taylor getting a run in the halves. We have to re-stabilise in other ways I suspect.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

How do you know that isn't the case?

I don't care about what people say after seeing a few highlights from this or that player (Cornish is exactly one of those), and you won't catch me calling for a player I haven't actually seen playing often enough to have formed an opinion.
How many players have you seen me call for throughout the years here?

I was one of Wallace's staunchest defenders, not because I though he's a great halfback, but because we didn't have anyone breaking the door down to first grade to replace him, including Ben Hunt!
Actually, when I think about it, Boyd is to fullbacks what Wallace is to halfbacks. He is a rep winger, solid and reliable, but not even in the top 8 fullbacks in the NRL.

Of the players you mention, Hampton was never talked up beyond reasonable form in ISC, same thing goes for Capewell or Williams. Munster is showing his wares at the Storm, and although he will eventually take it, he has a mountain to climb to take Slater's spot right now, Brooks still needs to iron out some deficiencies, but is playing FG, and as said before, Cornish is a highlights reel player, but has never demonstrated any ability to control or organise a team.

I don't "know" that isn't the case, but clearly the coaching staff think that isn't the case right now, hence he's not first choice half, but was also signed on big money for a junior, so they clearly rate him but don't think he's ready, that's totally fair in my view!

I'll ignore your Boyd to Wallace comparison. You're clearly blinded by your dislike of him for me to take your opinion seriously. Comparing Boyd to Wallace is ridiculous, so I won't even bother with that argument.

As for these juniors not being talked up, who are you kidding? I've been following league circles for a while now obviously, and there's always a few juniors from every club that are talked up to be amazing talents, the players I mentioned are definitely part of them.

Hampton:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-to-put-faith-in-rising-star-ben-hampton-to-replace-gareth-widdop-at-five-eighth/story-fni3gpfg-1226686534257 - This was TWO YEARS ago, he's still not a regular fixture, they event went out of their way to get Blake Green for this year and next - so the rising star who was talked up as 5/8 in 2014, probably won't get a shot as a regular 5/8 till 2017, if ever.

Another one - a year later http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/young-star-sets-sights-on-coveted-storm-role/2138402/

Hampton is rated so highly that he was made Queensland captain in the inaugural U20 Origin clash in 2012 - less than 12 months after breaking his leg. "That Origin game was a really good experience. Leading guys like Dylan Napa and Lachlan Maranta onto the field, who are pretty established first-graders now, gave me a lot of confidence," Hampton said.

So highly rated they signed a 28 year old half back from the super league on a two year contract.

Munster:

In one run, Munster produced a series of right-hand fends that would have impressed Greg Inglis. Munster also bamboozled the Magpies fullback with a left-foot step that would make Anthony Milford jealous. Weight of performance suggests the Storm simply have to blood the Rockhampton prodigy.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/intrust-super-cup-cameron-munster-stars-as-easts-tigers-beat-souths-logan-magpies-52-0/story-fni3gpfg-1227292743004 Greg Inglis would be impressed? Bamboozled with a left foot step that would make Milford jealous? Storm prodigy? Is that what you consider not talking up beyond reasonable ISC form?

Craig Bellamy believes the Auckland Nines could witness a potential superstar in Cameron Munster after the Storm on Thursday handed the Queensland sensation a $100,000-plus upgrade. The 19-year-old will be the Storm’s secret weapon at the inaugural Nines event starting Saturday,

"Superstar" "Secret weapon" - all seem like big hyped up words to me.

The list goes on and on. So don't blame me for being a bit cynical when people are advocating Taylor is a better long term prospect than Milford is it at 5/8, or that Boyd should be moved from a crucial position in the team (fullback), to accommodate a rookie 5/8. If that's true, and he's really that good, he'll undoubtedly get a chance to prove it before his contract is up with us, and if the coaching staff also believe it, they'll offer him another contract to stick around and start playing him from the bench even if their isn't a regular starting spot, just like Hunt had to do for a fair while before he got the regular 7 jersey.

 

[broncos4life]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

You're right -- it will destabilise them. But the more game time they get together, the more disruptive it will be if Milford does get moved. Which is why, despite Taylor's contract running til next year, I think it's kind of now or never. I get that every team loses young talent, but to me there's a difference between losing young talent and losing very talented young halves.

As for playing against men, there's really no way of knowing. For whatever reason, he's not playing ISC this year. Frankly I don't understand why.

Quite possibly because the coaching staff don't believe he's ready yet and want to handle his development properly without throwing him into the deep end.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

it irks me that a guy like Boyd is talked down to talk up a guy who is 20 and hasn't even played first grade yet. Boyd won a premiership in the NRL before his 20th birthday, was playing for Australia and Queensland at age 20 and played a key part in another premiership by age 23. Hardly the makings of a player who doesn't even deserve a shot at fullback and should be shifted to the wing before he's even allowed to prove his worth in the spine of a team he's just re-joined.

People can "not rate" him all they like, but to write him off for the sake of a unproven reserve grader is in my view, ridiuclous. Taylor is signed till next year, it's not "now or never", he can bide his time and prove his worth by being consistently very good in the reserve grades, injuries, player transfers and many other potential factors will get him chances in first grade, it's then up to him to prove he deserves to stay there.

I am not talking Boyd down at all. I am just saying that we didn't need him, and that the only reason he is here is because Bennett wanted him here. In my view, he was not recruited on form but on reputation, much like Barba was on his '12 form.

He is a an absolutely top class winger and very competent FB who will make our team even better than it is (although IMO Kahu could do the same if not better given a little time).

Clearly, Bennett had made up his mind about the team he wanted and wants which is his prerogative. He has also said, I have posted, that we need to focus on not losing class like Taylor, so I am curious what he intends to do with Taylor, and I know it won't be this year.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Quite possibly because the coaching staff don't believe he's ready yet and want to handle his development properly without throwing him into the deep end.

You don't get to win gold by swimming on your belly in the shallows

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

You don't get to win gold by swimming on your belly in the shallows

I disagree. I'm sure someone will give you a gold star!

 

[Cult]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

You don't get to win gold by swimming on your belly in the shallows

You also don't get to win gold if there are swimmers who are better than you in the race.

 

[broncos4life]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

You don't get to win gold by swimming on your belly in the shallows

Well tell the coaching staff that, you clearly know better than them.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

You also don't get to win gold if there are swimmers who are better than you in the race.

Yes, true, but you don't get to find out until you are in the race. Obviously, the question is who makes, and when, that decision is made. So we wait...

 

[Huge]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

No. Unneeded by a side leading the competition. Around Origin, a taste perhaps.

 

[Cult]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Yes, true, but you don't get to find out until you are in the race. Obviously, the question is who makes, and when, that decision is made. So we wait...

But you also have to qualify for that gold medal race.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

No. Unneeded by a side leading the competition. Around Origin, a taste perhaps.

just because we are leading the comp at this stage, doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking improve our team... if we wait until we start losing (if that happens, and due to origin there is a good chance as usual), then by the time the new combinations gel, it may be too late.

we should always be looking to improve our team, IMO, not just be happy scrapping by.

 

[Cult]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

just because we are leading the comp at this stage, doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking improve our team... if we wait until we start losing (if that happens, and due to origin there is a good chance as usual), then by the time the new combinations gel, it may be too late.

we should always be looking to improve our team, IMO, not just be happy scrapping by.

Maybe the people who select the team don't see massive defensive lapses as something that will improve the Broncos.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Maybe the people who select the team don't see massive defensive lapses as something that will improve the Broncos.

The catch-22 here is when do you know? Making or not, great defensive decisions and tackles in "juniors' is one thing, but the acid test is against men, not boys so to speak.

At some point in time, that acid test will have to come. My point in part, is that I hope it isn't left until too late.

 

[rnabokov]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

Well tell the coaching staff that, you clearly know better than them.

B4L, that is really uncalled for. I am expressing my opinion, on a forum designed for that. We all have our views and this place gives you the freedom to do that, however outrageous they seem to others.

 

[broncos4life]

Re: Should Ashley Taylor Be Promoted

just because we are leading the comp at this stage, doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking improve our team... if we wait until we start losing (if that happens, and due to origin there is a good chance as usual), then by the time the new combinations gel, it may be too late.

we should always be looking to improve our team, IMO, not just be happy scrapping by.

No one is suggesting we are or should be happy scrapping by, but throwing Taylor in the deep end has the ability to really destabilise the team, and his development.

This team needs time to continue gelling its combinations, not moving pieces to accomodate a talented junior with time on his side and not a second playing in anything higher than the u20s